Former Gunners star Ray Parlour is surprised to see the 30-year-old faring so badly with the Red Devils and believes a trade agreement involving Madrid could be the best option for all concerned.

He told talkSPORT of Sanchez: “He was brilliant at Arsenal. I do like him. He was one of those players who you would pay to watch.

“Sanchez was in such great form at Arsenal. I know a lot of Manchester United fans and I said to them, ‘You got an absolute bargain there – £20 million for a player of his calibre – he’s going to make your team much better’.

“But it just hasn’t happened for him. I’d go to Real Madrid and I’d swap him for Gareth Bale. They’ll be on the same sort of wages.”

Gareth Bale Real Madrid 2018-19

Sanchez has been at Old Trafford since January 2018.

Since arriving from Arsenal, he has managed just five goals in 41 appearances.

He has previously starred in Spain, though, during a three-year spell at Barcelona between 2011 and 2014.

It could be that a return to Spain appeals, with Bale heading in the opposite direction.

The Welshman has spent the last six years in Madrid, landing four Champions League crowns and scoring over 100 goals, but has faced ever-mounting criticism over recent seasons.